6-letter words with K as the 1st letter and B as the 4th letter

KIBBLE, KNOBBY, KIBBEH and KNUBBY show the doubled-B habit that shapes this list, and all three 17-point leaders use it. The second letter stays split: I opens seven matches, E six, then A, KN, KO and KR two each. No entry counts as common, though 13 carry definitions.

The K-B frame in brief

• 21 matches, none of them common, with 13 carrying definitions.
• Eight double the B, including KIBBLE, KNOBBY and KIBBEH.
• KNOBBY, KIBBEH and KNUBBY share the 17-point lead.
• I opens seven words and E six; A, KN, KO and KR split the rest.
• S closes seven, then H and D with three each.
• Three matches open KEM- and one KIM-: KEMBLA, KEMBED, KEMBOS and KIMBOS.

The doubled-B habit

KIBBLE, KNOBBY, KIBBEH, KEBBIE, KIBBES, KIBBIS, KNUBBY and KEBBED all place two B tiles side by side. That is eight of the 21, and it happens because a fourth-slot B rarely arrives alone in words of this shape.

Others keep a single B, among them KASBAH, KANBAN, KITBAG, KEMBLA, KEMBOS, KERBED, KIMBOS and KIRBEH. KASBAH and KANBAN are the two a casual player is most likely to recognise.

Scores and coverage

KNOBBY, KIBBEH and KNUBBY each score 17, and all three lean on the doubled B plus a Y or H. KASBAH, KEBBED, KEMBED and KIRBEH follow on 15, while KIBBLE, KEMBLA and KEBBIE reach 14.

The 14.1 average reflects B and K at three and five points. Collins carries all 21, but NWL2023 keeps 14 and ENABLE 12; check your game's word list before playing KIRBEH or KEMBLA.

Only KANBAN and KITBAG lack a Y, an H or a doubled B, and both sit at 12 or 13 points. Every other match finds extra value in one of those tiles, which is why KNOBBY, KIBBEH and KNUBBY share the top score while the plain spellings trail.